Dignity Memorial offers veteran burial benefits advice

Published 1:00 pm, Wednesday, November 11, 2015

United States veterans and their loved ones enjoy a free dinner at the Dignity Memorial Veteran Benefits Program presentation at Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant in Kingwood Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015.

United States veterans and their loved ones enjoy a free dinner at the Dignity Memorial Veteran Benefits Program presentation at Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant in Kingwood Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015.

Dignity Memorial offers veteran burial benefits advice

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

Approximately 1,700 veterans pass away in the United States every day, according to Dignity Memorial, which hosted a Veteran’s Benefit Program presentation at Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant in Kingwood Tuesday, Nov. 10.

Since 2004, Dignity Memorial has offered a Veteran’s Benefit Program to build awareness about veteran burial benefits as well as to offer some relief in areas that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not cover financially.

Houston market regional director and veteran of the United States Marine Corps Rob Rens spoke about what veterans and their families are entitled to by the VA in regards to a veteran’s burial benefits.

“On one hand, families think that the VA will cover absolutely everything,” Rens said. “But, that is just not the case. On the other hand, some don’t think that anything is covered. The fact of the matter is that it falls somewhere in the middle.”

The federal government has an allotted budget for the National Cemetery System. VA benefits to veterans who choose to be laid-to-rest in a national cemetery are greater than those who choose a private cemetery.

Through the VA, veterans and their spouses who choose a National Cemetery are entitled to receive a plot with a headstone or marker. For those who prefer cremation, the VA will provide a free bronze marker to be placed in a national cemetery.

The VA will also pay for the cost and physical man hours to open a grave, to perform the service and close the grave after that service has been performed.

“If you were to go to one of the cemeteries here in the Houston market and purchase all of these items from us it would cost you anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000,” Rens said. “It’s a tremendous cost saving that the VA provides should you choose to use the national cemetery.”

In order for veterans and their spouses to receive the benefits offered by the VA, veterans must have a Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States, or the DD 214, to verify military services. If the report is lost or in poor condition, a new copy can be ordered by sending a Standard Form 180 to the National Archives Center and receiving a new copy.

According to Rens, the biggest misconception regarding veteran benefits is that the VA will pay for the casket, funeral and cremation service. Although this is not the case, there is some potential for monetary reimbursement if qualifications are met and a VA Form 21-530 is submitted.

“It’s not an awful lot of money,” Rens said. “You can receive up to $700 towards the burial or cremation and up to $700 for the opening and closing at a private cemetery. They will provide up to $2,000 towards the casket if you die from a service-connected disability.”

Rens urged veterans and their families to consider prearranging their funeral plans.

“Prearranging will ease a financial burden,” Rens said. “In 1964, a funeral service, casket, embalming, flowers and everything cost $1,748 on average. Now that national average is actually closer to $8,000 or $9,000. By prearranging, you can lock-in today’s cost and live the next 20 to 40 years without having to worry.”

Prearranging also offers the option to pay for funeral costs in installments instead of leaving loved ones to cover the cost in full before services are rendered.

“Prearranging is going to ease an emotional burden too,” Rens said. “Relationships can be ruined when a mother or father passes away and their kids don’t see eye-to-eye. It’s going to ease a tremendous emotional burden on your family by taking care of as much as you possibly can ahead of time.

“Not everyone may know what you want, so if you don’t take the steps of doing it before hand then you’ll never be able to reflect your own wishes. The right decision is always going to be your decision.”